Chapter twenty-five: Coffee (Ellie's POV)

"I think I can do that myself," he smirked. 

"Fine," I shrugged, handing him the towel and stepping back. He turned to the mirror and cleaned himself off first, leaving his face untouched. He handed me some antiseptic wipes with a grin. "Oh, what? Can't do it yourself now?" I scoffed while taking them from him after washing my hands. 

"You should feel lucky you get to touch this pretty face," he taunted. 

I smacked his chest and he laughed with a wince. I rolled my eyes before starting at his forehead and cleaning up his eyebrow gently. Then I moved down the rest of his face, stopping at his bruised cheekbone, cleaning that up carefully, I cleaned up the bridge of his nose, and then his jaw which had a tiny little cut. I grabbed another wipe and did the corner of his mouth. 

He closed his eyes and his nose scrunched up so I took it that burned. I went over his face one more time slowly. I could feel his gaze on me as he stared at me, watching me. 

"You can stop staring, I'm almost done," I mumbled absentmindedly while cleaning up his eyebrow one last time. I tossed the wipe before grabbing him a towel. "Take a shower, then I'll put some medicine on," I huffed before leaving, closing the door behind me. 

After ten or so minutes he came out with a towel and grabbed his clothes before going back inside. Once he was dressed he came and called me to the bathroom. 

I went in and grabbed a q-tip and an ointment while he sat on the counter, his legs on either side of me while I stood in between. "Push your hair back," I said while unscrewing the cap. He didn't do anything, just smiled down at me lazily. 

I huffed before tying his hair up in a little ponytail that stuck up like a plant. I chuckled while using the q-tip to apply some ointment onto his eyebrow, his cheekbone, and his jaw. "Ice your nose and your lip, you'll be fine," I said while letting his hair down, ruffling it out for him. 

I tossed the q-tip and turned to leave but he locked his legs, keeping me there. I turned to him in anticipation but he didn't do or say anything, just stared. I raised my eyebrows at him but he didn't do anything, just slightly shook his head. 

I think I kind of like him. Like, a little more than I should. Like, a little more than just a friend, like I think I'm into him. 

I mean, it happened when we were kids, why can't it happen again? Right? Right? I don't know, so I'll just ignore it till it disappears as I do with everything I can't figure out. 

"What?" I chuckled while trying to pull away but he just wasn't having it. 

He wasn't laughing along with me, he was just staring with a small smile tugging at his lips. "Thank you for today. Everything you did at Withers' office. I didn't ask you to but you did it anyway. Thanks," he said. 

Is Zach Rivers thanking me? 

I tried hiding the surprise on my face but I probably failed miserably. 

"I mean it," he added. 

"Okay," I nodded, "No problem, anytime." 

Is it possible that I never stopped liking him in the first place? That I just made myself forget whatever I felt because he left. 

I thought he was never coming back and I was never going to see him again. What's the point in liking someone who is gone? So I made sure I didn't like him anymore. 

But what if I did? 

"Can I leave?" I asked. He simply shook his head in response. "Why not?" My brows creased in confusion. 

"There's something I need to ask you," he said. "Did you actually like me when we were younger? Like genuinely?" he asked. 

Okay, here's the thing. I need to figure this out, he's asking me this and I don't know what to say but I have to be careful of what I say. 

I'm a person who can't keep their thoughts to themselves, I always have something to say and I need to say it then and there whether someone else is there to listen or not, so I need to figure out whether I like him or not, because if I do, then I need to tell Isaac that nothing can happen between him and I. 

"Yeah, of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let you kiss me. Why?" I answered. 

"Would you let somebody who you don't like kiss you?" he questioned. 

"Why are you asking me this?" I inquired. 

"Just answer," he huffed. 

"No," I replied. 

"What if Spencer kissed you?" 

"No," I chuckled. 

"Brett?" 

"No, he's my friend," I answered. 

"Isaac?" 

Silence. 

"I know you think I'm wasting my time, but he's a nice guy," I shrugged. 

"That's not what I asked." He gave me a pointed look. 

"As of now," I sighed, "Probably not. Why are you asking me this?" I repeated. 

He ignored my question and just continued. "What if I did?" 

What is he going on about? 

"What are you-" 

He cut me off, "If I did? Then what?" he asked. 

"I-I don't know," I answered. 

"Why?" 

"What do you mean why? We have a history, it's different, we're not just friends, but we're not anything more, that's not what I'm saying I just- I don't know." See, I just end up blurting things out. It's out of my control. 

"Okay," he shrugged. 

"Okay, what?" 

"Good to know," he said. 

I stared in confusion and he moved me aside and hopped off, going out into the room. 

He is a weird guy. 

It was later that day and we were sitting on the couch while Brett made dinner because he felt like it tonight. I think I should talk to Isaac. The more I'm thinking about it, the more likely it is that I catch feelings for Zach. I spend all day every day with him and we argue but that's just us. 

We care about each other more than friends do and we're always there for the other. It's just weird between us. 

Maybe I should ask him for coffee. 

"Coffee?" 

Did someone say something? 

"Ellie!" I turned and saw Zach waving his hand in front of my face. "Coffee?" he asked, "Do you want any?" 

Oh. 

"No, thanks. I don't take coffee," I replied absentmindedly. 

"Since when?" he asked. 

"Like a year," I answered. I don't like coffee. I need to figure this out. 

Do I like Zach? Again? 

"Are you okay? You're like in another world," he laughed. 

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just thinking," I replied. 

"About what?" he asked. 

"Friday. I have another date with Isaac after the game," I said. Zach was allowed to be even though he has a suspension. 

"But there's a party after the game at Ethan's house. You can't miss it," Brett said. 

"I'll talk to Isaac then, maybe we can go another time," I shrugged. 

"He asked you on another date?" Zach questioned. 

"Yeah, is something wrong with that?" 

Please say something that helps me clear my doubts for you. 

"No, I don't care," he replied. 

So not helping. 

"Okay, cool." 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Night," I said to Brett before going into the room and bathroom where I changed and brushed my teeth before getting in bed where Zach lay, scrolling through his phone. 

"You're going to sleep already?" he asked. 

"I have school tomorrow, you don't. And I'm tired after today, aren't you?" He shook his head. "Okay, well I am. So goodnight," I sighed. I lay on my stomach, my hands tucked under my pillow while I tried going to sleep. 

It's probably been like an hour. 

I just couldn't sleep. I had been lying awake this whole time. 

"Ellie," he whispered. I stayed quiet, waiting to see what he'd do. He poked my arms gently and I didn't react, move a muscle, or even breathe. I felt him shuffle around before he lifted my pillow slightly and brought my arm out from under it, just the arm closer to him. 

What is he doing? 

He poked me again and when I still didn't move an inch, I felt his hand grab mine before he started drawing circles on the back of my hand. Then after a minute or so of doing that, he held my hand, locking my fingers with his. 

So it was intentional then, it still is. 

I found myself smiling thinking about it until he whispered my name again. 

"I could swear you just moved," he mumbled to himself. 

Did I move? I don't know, but I was awake. I bit back a laugh and turned my head to face him while biting my bottom lip so I wouldn't laugh or smile. 

He huffed and tried pulling his hand away quickly so he could lie and act like this never happened but I didn't let his hand go. "Just shut up and go to sleep, Zach. Hold my hand if you have to," I teased. 

I definitely need to have that cup of coffee with Isaac. I think it's fairly clear to me now. 

I like Zach. Again.

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Chapter twenty-five

I messed up some of chapter numbers... like the order they go in so I will fix that, don't get confused between what you read as the title and what you read when you open the chapter. I fixed it so hopefully it should be fine now but just let me know if the chapters don't show up in order for you <3

Next Chapter: Kiss and tell

I think it's time for that first kiss... maybe